How to Save Money with a Manual Thermostat

November 12, 2015

By now, most homeowners have heard of programmable thermostats and the benefits they provide, but for those who haven’t yet upgraded, it’s good to know that you can still manage your energy usage effectively and potentially save money on your monthly utility bill. Here’s how:

Location, Location, Location

The temperature readings on your manual thermostat can potentially be impacted by its location within your home. Direct sunlight, along with dust and drafts, can cause your thermostat to show temperatures that are inconsistent with the room’s actual temperature, meaning your system won’t cycle as efficiently as possible.

Ideally, your manual thermostat should be installed in a room with a stable air current, or in an interior hallway that doesn’t get direct sunlight. Keep it away from heat sources like the laundry room, fireplace, skylight or the kitchen and make sure it’s not being blocked by any furniture.

Timing is everything

Without the ability to program your thermostat or control it from afar, you’ll need to be diligent, remembering to adjust the settings when you’re going to away for any extended period of time. According to ENERGY STAR®, adjusting temperatures 5 to 8 degrees (down in winter, up in summer) can help save energy if you’re going to be away from home for several hours.

Before work in the morning and before you go to sleep at night are good times to adjust your thermostat to maximize energy savings.

Change the batteries

Replace the batteries once a year to prevent the thermostat and heating/cooling system from shutting down due to a lack of battery power. The optimum schedule would be to replace the batteries every fall before the heating season.